Iran criticizes selective human rights approach at UN council

Addressing the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 15, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, criticized the international community's selective approach to human rights. He noted that the session marked the first anniversary of the US and Israeli aggression against Iran in June 2025, which included a 12-day war and a 40-day war, resulting in over a thousand innocent victims. Bahreini paid tribute to the victims and survivors, stating that their suffering was met with silence from many countries and their calls for justice went unheard.

Bahreini highlighted that since June 2025, the people of Iran have lived under direct military attacks or the constant threat of further aggression and blockade. He expressed disappointment that those who claim to advocate for human rights have remained silent. He criticized the Human Rights Council for adopting resolution 61/1 against Iran, which he described as a victim of aggression, blurring the distinction between victim and aggressor. This, he argued, raises questions about the consistency, impartiality, and credibility of the international human rights system.

Defending Iran's military response, Bahreini stated that when Iran's territory was under grave threat, its officials including the supreme leader were assassinated, and its people faced indiscriminate aerial bombardments, the only reasonable course of action was the exercise of self-defense under international law. He specified that Iran's response was directed at the sources of imminent threat in its vicinity, aimed at neutralizing danger and protecting territorial integrity and civilians. He emphasized that the security of the Persian Gulf must be built by regional countries through cooperation, not external intervention.

Bahreini explained that Iran accepted a ceasefire out of responsibility for regional peace and collective security, despite its imperfections. He expressed hope that the end of war would bring an end to the roar of advanced weapons over schools and students, and that mothers like Makan Nasiri's mother, who still has not found any trace of her child after the attack on Minab school, would no longer wait in vain. He concluded that the end of war must mark the beginning of accountability, effective remedies, reparation, and redress for victims, including acknowledgment of harm, compensation, rehabilitation, and restoration of dignity. According to Mehr News, Bahreini's remarks underscored Iran's stance on the need for justice and non-repetition of such violations.